Automatic telephone.



m. 639,2dl

Patented Deo.'l9, I899. E. mas. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE.

(Application tiled Aug. 7, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I (No Model.)

witness as:

Int 62$ for izagmw THE NORRIS PETERS cc, wasnmamzv, n. c.

N0.'639,29I; Patgnted Dec. '|9,.ll899'.

' -E. E. BIES.

AUTDMATIG TELEPHONE.

(Application filed Aug. 7, 1891.)

(No Model) Mitnwkcsr 16. 5% Q3 rm: NORRIS PETR$ cm. WASHINGTON, o. c

iTEn STATES PATENT OFFIC ELIAS E. RIES, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORTO THE UNITED sTA'rfns AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE COMPANY, on NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,291, dated December is, 1899..

Application filed August 7, 18-&7. Serial No. 647,455. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS E. Runs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Automatic Telephones, of

- which the following is a specification.

My invention relates .to certain improvements in =ielephone-receivers having a self; :0 contained automatic switching device by means-of which-the circuit connections are automatically changed from the signaling to the conversational condition by the natural operation of lifting the receiver to the ear is and arerestored to the signaling condition by permitting the receiver to come to rest in its normal position.

My present invention is primarily designed as an improvement upon the telephone-switch shown in my United States Patent No. 567,794, dated September 15, 1896, although in some of its features it is applicable to other forms ofapparatus. In that patent, as in the present case, I have shown and des'cribeda device 2 5 which dispenses with-the use of hook-switches by combining with the receiver a gravityswitch in which the circuit-changing medium consists of a small quantity of mercury or other mobile conducting medium contained within a'suitably-sealed chamber or receptacle, the arrangement beingsu'ch that the act 7 of lifting the receiver to the ear will automatically cause the said medium to shift its position from the space or portion of the chamher where it is retained in position to complete the-'calliug-circuit to the portion of the chamher or space where it is retained in a position to cut in the receiver-coil and the transmitter with its battery, while the dropping of the re 40 ceiver or the act of replacing or suspending it in its normal or vertical position while the 1 apparatus is out of use will instantly restore the connection for calling or receiving a calling-signal by causing the mercury or other i medium to [low by gravity from the chamber where it is retained when the instrument is in position forconversation through a suitable path or passage to the chamber where it is retained in position to cut out the trans- 5o mitter and. receiver and cut in the callingcircuit.

The object of my present improvement is, first, to insure greater certainty and ieliability in the operation of the circuit-changing apparatus by providing for a wider range of ceiver while the latter is being used with the on1l'ly,'to adapt the invention to telephone"- receivers of a more compact type'such,' for example, as the class commonly known heretofore as watchcase-receivers--in connection with which my invention is designed to provide a convenient knob or holding device b y which such receivers may be more readily manipulated, and, thirdly, inprovidinga cersignal may be sent over the line by the person being my automatic telephone either preparatory to or during the process of using the instrument withoutrecourse to and independentlyof the usual magneto calling apparatus,

phonic communication and at the same time not only simplifying the construction and re ducing the cost of a subscribers outfit, but,

gravity-hook switches or supports heretofore employed and combining the various instrumentalities for signaling, switching, and re-, ceiving n the form of .a single portable apparatus in which these various operations are Fig. 3 is a detaile'dplan view of the main switch-contact cup containing the auxiliary calling apparatus and showing the circuit conuections. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, in'part,

I mercu ry-chamber, and switch-contac movement or permissible tilting of the rethus greatly facilitating the process of telecircuits in the conversational positionj sectain novel and useful means wherebya callingby dispensing with the stationary or fixed rationallyandnaturallyperformed,especially ing apparatus and its connections removed.

of the knob containing the calling apparatus,

ing a slightly-modified construction. Fig. '5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the circuits and their connection with the respective binding-posts'of the instrument, the auxiliary callingcircuit-being shown in' dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a detailed plan view of the upper switch-contact rings shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 8 a plan with cap removed, of a modified type of my automatic telephone in which the circuitconnections are brought out at the top instead of at the side of the instrument and showing the. mercury-switch and its connections as the same are arranged without the auxiliary calling device." Fig. 9 is a detail sectional elevation, and Fig. 1 0 a plan view, showing the preferred construction of this type of instrument when the calling device is employed. Fig. 11 is adiagram similar to Fig. 5, showing the various telephone circuit connections.

mercu ry-chamber as it appears when inclined ing-posts.

diaphragm D, constitute the-magnetic circult through which pass the lines of force,

the strength of which is varied by the currents induced in the receiver-coil C. The rear or upper end of the core F in this figure is provided with aconical or cup-shaped cavit-y 1', which serves as the receptacle for a small quantity of mercury or quicksilver Q. A knobsh'aped block 'K,-of hard rubber or otherinsulating material, is secured to the top of the magnetshell F bythe threaded end of the core F, and this block is provided with a conical central opening constituting a flaring chamber whose sidesform a continuation of by its flange at the top of the block K is a conducting-shell Y, preferably. of iron, (or

, any'other metal not attacked by mercury,)

whose sides are inclined to conform with those of the block-chamber, but are of somewhat smaller dimensions, so as to leave an annular Fig. 12 is a detailed view of the sonically-shaped space between them, which constitutes the mercury-chamber Embedded inthe upper portion of the block K, with their inner surfaces flush with the mercury-chamber q, are two contact-rings W X, also of iron, slightly separated and insulated from each other by the material of the block K it the latter is molded with the rings in place, or by a separating-ring of insulating material it the construction shown in Fig. 4 i

is used. Between the upper ring W and the flange of the shell Y may be interposed an insulating ring or gasket 0, which serves to seal the mercury-chamber when "the shell Y is secured to the block' by the screws 0"0' An insulating cap-piece K, which screws upon a peripheral thread formed in the block K, further serves to hold and inclose the v arious parts, and together with the block'K 'forms a convenientknob or grip for manipuiating and holding the receiver.

Under certain conditions, which'will presentl y be more fullydescribed, I provide the interior hollow portion of the conductingshell Y with a small auxiliary switchboard J, Figs. 1 and 3, to the upper surface of which are secured three contact springs or surfaces. The contact-spring .l" normally rests against the back contact J", but is caused to break" its connection with J ;and -to establish con hectiou with the contact surface .Af when pressure is brought upon the knob or key k. This key passes freelythrough the center of the cap-piece K and has an elongated stem and a button-shaped head which serves both as a push-button and as a support for conveniently hanging the instrument, if desired, upon a suitably shaped. hook pr fork 7;. '(Shown in dotted lines.) 1

The flange of the shell h, which forms the main-lino terminal, is connected by means of a small conducting pin or bolt 3 and by wire y to the binding-post L, which forms one of a number that are screwed with interposed bushings to one side of the inclosing shell F. As will be seen by reference to the diagram Fig. 5, this binding-post L connects to the line. 'ihebolt y,as will be seen,passesthrough one of a number of vertical holes h, (six in Figs. 2and 3,) which are preferably located at equal intervals around the knob K directly under the contact-rings \V X. The latter have their outer edges cut away, as shownin Fig. 6, or may be drilled after. assembling and provided with insulating-bushings h", as shown in the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, in order to permit of the free passage of the various conducting pins or bolts without touching the same at such points as require a through connection between the space above the shell Y and the space within the inclosing shell F.

one end of the coil 0 of the receiver. The other end of this coil connects by wires to the binding-post S, which, as will be seen The upper contact-ring W connoots by means of the pin zr and wire w with from thedhigram view, is in connection with the secondary coil 8' of the transmitter. The

l lower contact-ring X is connected by a pin :1: at the back of the receiver and wire m with 5' the binding-post B, which leads-to the primary coil, transmitter, and battery. The binding-post M, which leads to the magneto and call bell, is, when the anxiliary,switchboard J and its connections are omitted, as

in Fig. 2, directly in electrical connection with the inclosing shell F,' with which the mercury-cavity 1: makes connection. When the switchboard or calling apparatus J is employed, however, an auxiliary binding- I5 postA, Fig. 5, is provided,'and instead of connecting the binding-post M directly to the magnet shell l?" the same is likewise insulated from, the shell and connected through wire m, by means of the vertical connectingso pin m and wire n", to the back contact J" of the spring 3' ofthe switchboard J. The 7 spring 3 in turn connects bya-wire j with the vertical pin j, which screws into the magnet-casingF'. Theadditionalinsulatedbind- 'z5 ing-pos't A is connected by a wire a and a verticalpin a, Fig.- 3, to the lower contact-A,

that is screwed to the insulating-block J. It

' will be observed that the'eifect of this arrange ment upon the circuitconnections under normal conditions is the same as though the switchboard J were omitted, since owing-to the bridging of the contacts J and J" there is a direct conducting-path through the mercuryQ, when resting in the cavityiv, to the magneto binding-post M, while tneauxiliary postA under these conditions is practicallydead due to the open-circniting at its terminal contact A, The various ,wires connecting with the binding-posts of the instrument 40 are preferably brought together into asingle flexible cord 0, which is supported within a suitable bracket extension 0' at one side of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 2. The operation of my automatic telephone,

so far as described, will now be'apparent.

Neglecting for the time being the auxiliary callingswiteh feature w'e'will assume that the instrument isnsed at one end of a telephone-circuit provided with the usualtrans- 5o mitter, induction-coil, local battery, and mag neto calling apparatus, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 5. It now the telephone is standing orhanging in its normal position, as shown .in Fig, 1, the mercury Q will rest at the bot tom of the conical |nercnry-chamber q within the cavity '0 of the core. F, thus making connection between the lower end or tip of the main-line contact-shell Y, which is connectedwith the line through binding-post L, and the core and shell B", which connect with. the

magneto through binding-post M. The receiver-ccil, as well-as the transmitter and its local battery, is open-circuited under these conditions by reason of the absence of the V mercury from the two upper contact-rings W and X. Consequently the connections are in the condition for signaling, and a call may be sent over the line by operating the crank of the magneto M, or anincoming call may be received upon the local magneto or signal 7o bell ll When the calling-signal has been, either given or received, the recei'veris taken by the knob or switch block K and lifted to the car. This action causes the mercury to at once run to the opposite or upper end of the switch-chamber, as shown in the detail view, Fig.'12,'breaking connection with the nie'tal surfaceof the lower contact-cavity 'v and establishing the connection'between the main-line contact-shell Y at what "is now its lowest point'and the two contact-rings T and X, that surround it. In this position of the telephone the magneto or calling circuit is cut out and the connections placed in'the proper condition-for conversation by the automatic cutting in of the receivercoil, transmitter, and battery. Under the conditions just stated the main -line circuit is established from the line through bindingpost L to contact-shell Y, through mercury Q, upper contactring W, receiver-eoil G, binding-post S to the secondary S of the i'nduction-coil,,. and from thence to the'distant station via earth G or line return.- At thesame time the local-battery of transmitter circuit is 5 closed from one pole of the battery B"through line and binding-post Ltothe contact-shell Y,

through mercury Q, lower contact-ring 'X, binding-post B to the primary 1" of the induction-coil, transmitter T, and the other terminal'of the battery B. 'By reason of the conical form and divergent sides of the mercury-chamber and main contact-surface, which 'arrangement'forms an important part of my .present invention, I obtain not only a rapid movement of the mercury from one position to the other, but I also secure the "important advantage of overcoming the prior limitation of a restricted head motion by pro-- viding fora wide range of permissible incli- I I0 nation ofmy automatic receiver when held to the car while engaged in conversation, Without obliging the user to hold itin a fixed position and without danger of accidental interruption of the connections by reason of 11 an undue tilting or inadvertent shifting of thetelepbouaand which is especially likely to take place in thecase of the watchcasc 'vention, and whilel prefer to employ what I have termed a conical chamber for the purpose, the extremes of which constitute the mercury-retaining spaces, I do not limit myself to such form of chamber and connecting passage or path, the gist of the invention be-. ing the passage or path upwardly inclined or directed from the space occupied by the mercury or other medium when the instrument is in normal position for conversation. By reference to- 12'it will be seen that it is not even necessary with this construction to hold the receiver, in listening, with its rear or top portion inclined below a horizontal line, since the tapering sides of the mercurychamber, which, as already stated, are inclined at an angle of forty-five degreesfrom the longitudinal axis, will permit a decided forward inclination of the earpiece before the mercury-level reaches the magneto or calling contact-surface.

' sired, increased or diminished, according to toward the rear of the mercury-chamber is by preference so reduced in .width that a small quantityot mercury willsufficc tospread over a large surface of the contact-rings, and thus insure an excellent electrical connection of exceedingly low resistance. Fora similar reason the main contact-shell may be provided with a central elongation or tip at its lower, extremity, so as to dip farther into the mercury-cavity o, as shown in Fig. 1. I have found by experiment that mercury, either by itself or with theaddition of a little powdered graphite, forms a most reliable and permanent conductor when used as a circuit-chang; ing medium under the conditions herein shown, and possesses many advantages as a bridging-conductor over the ordinary circuitchanging contacts or springs. I do not, however, desire to limit myself herein to the use of mercury,'as I may use small lead shot or any other finely-divided conducting material or fluid as the circnit-changing medium.

Having now described the operation of the automatic switch feature of myimproved receiver, I will proceed to briefly outline the operation of the auxiliary calling device already referred to.

It will be evident that in the operation of my portable telephone. it is desirable that some means-should be provided for calling the party with whom one is desirous of con-- versing, and especially of repeating'a callingsignal after a con versatiou is commenced without the necessity of han gin g the receiver upon a hook-switch or of having recourse to t a separate and sometimes distantly-located appliance, such as the ordinary ma gnctogenerator crank or its equivalent. It is to supply this need in locations where the ccnditions for its use are\ favorable that the auxiliary calling feature of my invention is brought into play. This calling device will be also found of great use in code-signaling for party-line work.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 5 it will be seen that the auxiliary or supplementary binding-post A is in communication with This angle may be, if deany constant independent source of current through the auxiliary wire or loop A, (shown in this figure in dotted lines,) the opposite end of this wire or loop being joined to the wire leading to the post M at a point between said post and its junction with the signal-bell M and magneto M, which latter, as is customary, has its coils shortcircuited when not in use. In the present instance the independent source of current is shown as being supplied by secondarycoil 'i of a small induction-coil or converter I, whose primary or inducing coil 1" is, in connection with a generator I of alternating or intermittent current, adapted to operate the bell ll The induction-coil I may be connected, as shown, wit

any convenient alternating-current lightingcircuit, or a separate intermittent currentgenerator capable of directly furnishing cur rent to a number of telephone instruments stallations in which a battery calling outfitis commonly employed abattery 6 or other source of continuous current (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11) may be substituted for the generator I and induction-coil I.

In using my automatic telephone which in practice is preferably arranged to lie within easy reach upon the desk or table, with the earpiece down, as in Fig. 1, the transmitter being located in a position where it is not in the way, but is at the same time within easy reach of the voice) the person desirous of 'establishing communication with central or with a distant station simply reaches out and grasps the instrumentby the knob K preparatory to lifting it to the car, at the same time pressing the key it and keeping the latter depressed for a moment or during the in terval required to carry the receiver to the ear. The pressure upon the key It is made by one or more 'of the fingers, which are permitted to rest naturally upon the key while assisting the other fingers and the thumb in holding the instrument in the hand. In this movement of the receiver a callingsignal is thus transmitted to the distant station from the auxiliary source I by reason of the opening of the branch M" of the magneto-circuit at the back contact J" and the substitution of the auxiliary loop A" by the closing of the circuit between J'and A, while the mercury Q still restsm'iihin the cavity 0.

The fiowof current may be traced as follows: commencing from the secondary terminal 2', along wire A to post A, interior connections a a a" to contact-spring A,

IIO

thence to spring J, connections j j, and

across the normally-shunted coils of mag-' neto M, and through localbell hi' to opposite terminal of the secondary coil '0. On raising the receiver t the ear this auxiliar calling oeaaei s,

circuitv is automatically interrupted by the mercury running toward the rear orbase of the cone-shaped mercury-chamber q, as already described, so that the instrument will then be in a condition '-for conversation whether the key I; is kept depressed or not. Should it bedesired, as is frequently the case, to. repeat a call to central while awaiting an answer to the original call, it will not be necessary, as under the systems now in vogue,

to remove the phone from the ear and to hang.

it uponaswitching-hook in order to restore the calling connection, thus running the-risk of missing an answer to the original call; but instead a slight momentary inclination or tilt ing of the rear portion of the receiver, the

pressure upon the key It having been naturally maintained in grasping the instrument,

while still engaged in listening is all that is placed upon the desk, or, if preferred, hung by the knobK or the key It upon a suitable stationary fork, at the end of the con-versation the connections will be in condition to receive a. call upon the bell ll from a distant station. it will be understood that in cases where the auxiliary loop A" is employed the magneto M. may be entirely dispensed with, this portion ofv the drawing being intended to show the application of my device to existing installations.

On Sheet 2 Ihave shown a modified form of my invention, in which insteadof bringing the various terminals to binding-posts at the base of the instrument I bring them "to a series of posts at the top of the receiver, with which connection is made by the conductingcord 0, that passes out through a central opening at the top of the cap-piece, as shown in Fig.7. This form is for some purposes a. more I desirable arrangement, especially since the conducting-cord a may itself form a convenient support for sustaining the instrument, while the cap-piece K serves as a protecting hood or cover for the binding-posts and conductor-terminals, none of which are exposed.

In this figure I have shown a type of receiver having a double pole-magnet F, the knob K and receiver-casing being formed of one integralpieoe of hard rubber or other insulating material, as shown. The main-line contact-shell Y in this instance forms a lining for the body of the mercury-chamber q, whilethe conducting-rings W X are carried by an interior non-conducting block N, which at its lower extremity carries the magneto contactterminal R-Qwhich latter is secured to thejscrew orboltn', which in the plan view Fig. 8 which shows the terminal arrangement when the auxiliary calling feature is dispensed with, is

connected by conducting-strip n" with the rear-binding-post M. 'As shown in this figure,.the binding-postsM, L, B, and S are set around the block ,N directly above the contact-rings, leavingacentral space which may be-occupied by-asupporting-knot in the conductor-cord c. The post B screws into-the lowerring X, while the others simply enter for a short distance the block N, the various terminal wires being brought up to them from the receiver-casing through holes 71/, formed in the insulating-blocks K and N. A terminal screw R, which is tapped into the upper contact-ring W, connects this ring by wire w with the receiver-coil,the other electrical connections leading from the various contacts being the same as already described with reference to the previous figures. In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown the terminal arrangement when the auxiliary" calling deviceis used. The central keyk is somewhat enlarged and in the form of a sleeve or bushing, being provided with a hollow central opening having a number-of lateral branches it", through which the conductors of the cord 0 pass to the binding-posts of the instrument. This key has a lower closed portion bearing upon the spring J',which is in connection with the contact V through the central screw it. The key It is formed of two parts and, as shown in Fig.4, may be pressed upwardly by a separate spiral spring 10', so as -to relieve the spring J of, this duty. The key has a free vertical motion around the conductingcord .0 and is readily manipulated bythe pres-' sure of the fingers which straddle the cord tion with the preceding figures, and the circuit connections'as they exist under tihealternate positions of the mercury chamber (shown, respectively, in Figs. 7'and12) may likewise be traced by reference tothe diagram view Fig. 11. .IIq order toj .f urther facilitate the tracing of the.ditlerentcircuits, I have shown in Fig. 13 a skeleton diagramof the a various parts of my automatic receiver with" the interior connections to their respective binding-posts.

When my improved telephone is to be em-' ployed for short-distance work or under conditions where a battery instead of a magnet-o calling apparatusis usually installed, as already stated, a calling-battery b, wired up as shown'in'dotted lines in Fig. 11, will take the place ol'both the magneto M and" the auxiliary source I and will serve when connected between the conductors 'A" and M to automatically perform its calling fhnctionsfl when-myreceiver is taken in hand upon entering into conversation, as well it's-automatically ringing off when the conversation is'cnded.

, ple, as is illustrated in myprevious patent ratus, asto constitute an integral part of by and affords many other advantages over While I-have herein shown my invention as applied to certain specific forms of telephone-receivers, it will be understood that its principle is such that it-can be applied to any type of telephone-receivers-such, for examas well as to any condition of telephone-circuits, and I therefore do not desire to limit myself toits application to the particulartype of receivers or circuit connections illustrated. I may also in cases where this is desirable suitably combine'in one and the same appathe portable instrument herein shown and described, the transmitter 'l, with its inductioncoil and the-calling bell or buzzer M', leaving only the circuit connections to the line and battery to be providedfot outside of the instrument proper.

From what has been said it will be evident that by means of my invention a simple, rational, self-contained, and effective telephone of great flexibility is provided, that reduces the n u mber of the man ual operations required the existing methods ofconductiugtelephonic communications and the more .or less complicated apparatus'for practicing the same, inasmuch as by means of my automatic telephone only a single movement of a single hand, (leaving theotherentirelydisengaged,) and that movement promptly audalmost unconsciously performed in a most natural and instinctive manner without any necessary previous training, is all that -is required to com men'ce,carry on,and finish a conversation.

In my prior patent, No. 567,794, I describe a switching-chumber of cylindrical'or tubular form, one extremity of the tube or cylinder constituting a merctu'y-chamber in which the mereuryrests when the instrument is out of use and said extremity being of conical or tapered shape. In this form of switchwhen the instrument is held in the normal position for usethat isto say, in the horizontal position the mercury is apt to flow into the conical end and there make the signaling or callingconn'ection unless pains be taken to slightly' in'vert or incline the instrument in the opposite direction. This form of chamberd-ilfers, essentially, from my form in which tlie'sides are conical or flaring, so that when the instrument is held in horizontal position the tnercury being at one end of the chamber can only reach the other end by flowing up the inclined side, and hence the instrument may be used in the normal way without danger of changing the connections.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

1. In an apparatus for telephonic communication, a single portable apparatus embodying the signal-controlling device and circuitchanging and receivingmechanism, of a telephone-stationcombined as described to suecessively perform their signaling, circuitchanging and receiving functions by the act of grasping and lifting the said apparatus to the ear.

2. In an apparatus for telephonic communicatiou, a single portable instrument comprising a telephone-receiver bearing a selfacting or gravity switch that automatically changes the connections from condition for receiving the signals to condition for conversation, and also a signal-controlling device for calling the distant station adapted to be grasped or engaged by the hand when taking hold of the instru men t,whereby, as described, the calling, circuit-changing and receiving functions are successively performed by and in theaet of grasping and lifting the said apparatus to the ear.

3. In a telephonic apparatus, a telephone receiver or earpiece carrying agravity ciremit-changing switch together with a complem'entary signaling-switch or'circ'uit-controlling device adapted to operate in conjunction therewith, all combined and constructed as described to perform the calling, circuit-- changing, receiving and ringing-off functions by the act of grasping the receiver, applying the same to the ear'and returning or permitting it to return to its normal position when, the conversation is ended.

4. In a telephone system, the combination with the local call-bell and a magneto-generator or other normally-inactive source of calling-current,-of a switch device for normally maintaining the local circuit closed through said bell so that the latter may be operated by a calling-signal transmitted from such normally-inactive source, and an independent or auxiliary active source of calling-current and a local-circuit-closing key therefor designed and adapted to transmit a calling-current and to operate the call-bell when manipulated while the said switch is in its normal condition, substantially as set forth.

5. In a telephone system, the combination,

with the signaling-circuit and a switch device for normally maintaining said circuit in a condition tobe responsive to a calling-current sent over the same from a distant and normally-inactive source, of a continually-acti ve auxiliary generator, and an auxiliary key or push-button arranged to be operated in conjunction with said switch device for including said auxiliary generator in the signaling-circuit, substantially as set forth.

6. In a telephone system, the combination with the signaling-circuit and a normally-in active magneto-generator included therein, of an auxiliary contiuually'active source of alternatingorinterm ittent current,and means located upon the receiver for including said source in the signaling-circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a telephone system, the com bmation active source of current therefor normally disconnected, and means located within or carried by the receiver and operated by the ac-'.

, tion of inclining or tilting the receiver while the-same is grasped'by the handand held in position for listening, as described, for operatively including thesaid source in the signaling-circuit and thusrepeating the call while awaiting an answer to the original call.

9. The combination with a telephone-receiver carrying an automatic gravity-switch for changing the local circuits automatically from condition for receiving a signal to condition for conversation, of an anxiliary'key orswitch device, and a continually-active generzliltor controlled thereby for transmitting a ca 10. In a telephone system, the combination with the signaling-circuit and a switch device for normally maintaining said circuit in con dition to be responsive to a calling-current, of acontinually-active generator, and an au'xiliary switch or key independentof the telephone-support for transmitting a signalingcurrent from said generator.

11. In atelephone system, the combination with the local call-bell, of a switch device for normally maintaining the local circuit closed through said hell so that the latter may be operated by a calling-signalsent from a distant point, a source of calling-current, and a localcircuit closing key therefor designed and adapted to transmit calling-current when inanipulated while the said switch is in its normal condition. 1

12. In a telephone system, the combination with the signaling-circuit, of aswi'tch device for normally'maintaining said circuit in p07 sition to be responsive to a calling-current sent over the same from a distant source, a continually-active auxiliary local generator, and an auxiliary keyor push-button arranged to be operated in conjunction with said switch device for including said auxiliary generator in a signaling-circuit through said switch device while the same is in its normal position;

13. A telephone-receiver bearing a gravitycircuitchanging or switching device, and having a calling-key connected to said switching device, as described, so as to be rendered operative when said switching device is in one position and to be thrown out of operative condition when said switching device or the-receiver containing the same is in another position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. An automatic telephone instrument comprising in asingle portable structure, a receiver, a circuit-changing switch adapted to be automatically operated by the change in' position of the receiver from the calling to the listening, position and vice versa, and a key or signaling device arranged to be operated for transmitting a calling-current by the hand whichgrasps the receiver, substantially as set forth. l

15. A teleplione-rccei\-'er bearing a mercury-chamber, a series of contact-surfaces Within said mercury chamber, connections between said contactsurfaccs and a series of binding-posts carried by or secured to the body or'frzime of the receiver, and a calling key or'switch-interposed between one of said contact-surfaces and one or more bindingposts, connected with or included in the signaling-circuit; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. A telephone instrument having arecei'ver coil and diaphragm and a casing therefor, an insulating-knob at the back of said receiver-casing containing an automatic gravity circuit-changing switch and an auxiliary signal or calling device, and an inclosing cover orcap-piece for said device containing a key or push-button for operating the same, substantially as set forth.

-17.--In a telephone-receiver, the combination of an inverted-cone-shaped conducting cup or shell having a cylindrical upper or base portion and serving as the receptacle for a fluid conductor, an insulating plug or stopper having a lower portion substantially conforming in shape to and entering said conducting shell and carrying supplementary conducting-terminals, a fluid or similar circuit-closer, as described, a circuit-closing switch mounted upon the upper or exterior portion of said insulating-plug, an inclosing cover forthe circuit-closing switch and receiver-terminals, and a key or button pro- 'jecting through said inclosin'g cover for operating the circuit-closi S\\'lt(3il,\SllbSl3tll1- tially as set forth.

18. In a telephone-receiver, the combination with the knob or casing containing the 20. In a telephone-receiver, the combination with the calling-switch or circuit-closer having a, frontand back contact, the receiver my invention 1 have signed my name, in preslqinding-posts and their inclosing cover hnvonce of two witnesses, this 31st; day of July, ing a central opening, 0f the combined con- 1897. 1ucting-cord bushing and operating key for 5 said calling device movable within said open- Witnesses: 4 I

ing,.snbstantia1ly as set forth WM. 11. CAPEL, In testimony that; I claim .the foregoing as H. HOFFMAN.

ELIAS E. RIES. 

